Spaying and Neutering Cats

Cat spaying is the common term used to describe the surgical procedure that removes the ovaries and uterus in
order to sterilize a female cat. There are several health benefits of spaying a cat therefore it is recommended
that all non-breeding female cats be spayed. First, spaying a cat eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine
cancers. Breast cancer is the number one type of cancer diagnosed in un-spayed female cats and if your cat is
spayed before her first heat cycle, there is a markedly reduced chance of developing breast cancer. With every
subsequent heat cycle, the risk of developing breast cancer increased. The most obvious reason to spay your cat
is to prevent unwanted pregnancies and kittens. Cats mature very young and it is currently recommended that most
cats be spayed between 4 and 6 months of age.

Cat neutering is the common term used to describe the surgical procedure that removes the testicles in order to sterilize a male cat.

Most of the advantages of neutering cats are behavioral as neutered male cats make better pets. Once male cats
reach puberty, a number of behavioral changes make him less desirable as a pet. He will become
more territorial and start to mark areas even inside the house by spraying urine. Male cat urine has a very offensive
strong odor that is difficult to remove. Un-neutered cats also have a tendency to roam and try to escape outdoors.
They often engage in fights with local cats which may result in bite wounds or more serious injuries and infectious
diseases. Diseases such as FIV and FeLV are more common in un-neutered male cats and are incurable and fatal diseases.
It is recommended to neuter your male cat before the onset of puberty most commonly between 5 to 7 months of age. If
you choose the Best Care Little Bundles Program for your kitten, a spay or neuter surgery is included at a reduced price
during the first year after enrollment.

Our Cat Champion

Jennifer Diem

SPECIAL CAT HOURS

Mon-Fri

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Sat

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Emergency

In case of emergency, please call us immediately.

If for some reason we are not available between the hours of 8 A.M. and 8 P.M. Monday through Friday and 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. on Saturdays, we always recommend calling our Sister Hospital first with any pet emergencies:

Specialty Care

As part of the VCA family, we have over 83 specialty hospitals across the US and Canada which provide referral specialty care, so there may be one near you. Enter ZIP to find VCA specialty care hospitals near you.